Finally.... some photos

 

1. West coast black sand beaches = HOME

(you can just see snow capped Mount Taranaki in the background)

 

2. Black Angus with Pohutukawa in flower in the background!

(using some instagram filter)

 

3. Pohutukawa in flower

(afternoon sunlight)

 

4. Fitzroy beach fun with kids and cousins!

(my childhood beach)

 

5. Christmas dinner - NZ style

(all the kids together)

 

6. Daily Tip Top ice creams

 

7. Little Miss Nikita and my gorgeous niece, Caitlin

(Pukekura Park, New Plymouth)

 

8. Pukekura Park - Festival of Lights

 

9. Nikita posing on the perspex bench seat - Pukekura Park

 

10. Hanging lights over Poets Bridge - Pukekura Park

 

11. The Big Dig - Ngamotu Beach

 

12. My all time favourite view

(I never tire of this)

Finally I seem to be able to upload photos onto my blog!  As usual, most are scenes or the kids as I am the one manning the camera.  All are taken in my home town of New Plymouth.  I miss this place dearly and never realised just how much I'd like to live there again, and after spending 5 whole weeks in New Zealand the desire is stronger than ever.  I miss this gorgeous view (above), there is something very special about it that gives me a sense of belonging.   I miss the beaches, the fine black sand, the rugged coastline, the surf waves, the native trees, the beautiful people!

 

All in all, I am homesick!

 

I have been back in Australia for just under a week, as usual life picks up where you left it and I am back running around like the headless chook that I am taking kids to swimming lessons, organising school uniforms and stationary bla bla bla.

 I did, however, received a gorgeous parcel of joy from our 

whore-gasmic gal

 

 

Sarah

 

As always, all gifts are spectacular!

 

 

You know I'm gunna be making you another dress now!

 

 

 

Mine and Nikita's new Christmas presents!

 

 

and lastly, a photo taken on Tuesday evening from Mount Porepunkah looking towards our closest bush fire which is currently burning behind Harrietville.  Our friend in need, Elvis (the water bombing helicopter) has been flying overhead continuously over the past 48 hours.  Lets hope this is contained asap.

 

Anyway, it's time to supervise the kids in the pool.

Chat again real soon.

Dee xox

 

 

 



Hello, Hello, I'm back again (I'm back, I'm back as a matter of fact)

 

 

How are you all and a BIG whopping

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

The kids and I landed safely back on the dry continent yesterday morning and are glad to be home

in our OWN beds!!

As usual the heat is sinful but our air-con is working wonders so I have been unpacking, washing, drying, catching up on all the mail and of course local news!

We had a sensational time in New Zealand but more of that to come .....

for some god-for-saken reason I can't upload

photos onto my blog. 

 

WEIRD

 

so when I figure it all out I will be back with some colourful happy snaps!

In the meantime I will be reading through your blogs and catching up on the gossip.

I have a lot planned for 2013

so bring it on I say!

 

Chat real soon

Dee xoxox

 



Going for a ride on a big jet plane - hey hey - hey hey - hey hey

Yes lovelies,

 

it's that time again for my customary annual/bi-annual pilgrimage across the

"ditch"

(Tasman Sea for those that don't know our slang down under)

 

The kids and I are gunna take a ride on a big jet plane

and head back to New Zealand in just over a week

to hang out with the maddening crowd!

(that would be the family and all its extensions!!)

 

Am I excited?  Just a tad.

It's my way of re-connecting, re-charging and relaxing!

I can't wait to see my old stomping ground

 

(Mount Taranaki)

and hang out with people that I love and adore!

 

These past few weeks have gone so fast,

 

I have

 

been entertained by tigers

 



 

sorted, tagged and priced dresses for sale

 

participated in my first ever "Suitcase Rummage"

in Melbourne.  It was a huge day, up at 5am, drove 4 hours to Melbourne, got there early and thankfully parked the car right outside the front door!  Had time for a coffee break and then the girls and I lugged our suitcases (3) up the stairs and into the Thornbury Theatre to display our wares!

It was a fabulous day with good sales and lots of potential customers including a few orders after the fact!  Got to be happy with that :-)

 

a quick stop at the "oppie" and I scored a few pretties for more frock making!
Lucky my mum has a good sewing machine and overlocker so I am taking some pattern pieces with me just incase I have withdrawals!  I am secretly looking forward to scouring through a whole heap of NZ op shops!

 

Today I am packing my bags and tomorrow I head to Melbourne to meet up with a girlfriend

for 3 nights and 4 days of catching up, shopping, exploring and dining!  We haven't seen each other in around 5 years and the two of us back-packed our way around Europe in our hey day so it is sure to be a fun filled week with a dash of reminiscing!

 

I am going to be in NZ for 5 whole weeks so you may not see me here again until the end of January!

I promise when I get a chance I will be tuning into your blogs and making random comments here and there!  I'm kind of going off the grid for that time with no international roaming as it is so beedin expensive.

 

I hope you all have a fabulous time over the festive/silly season with lots of thrifty finds in between a wee bit of indulgance!

 

hugs to you all,

Dee xoxo

 



A week of instagram

Whilst I have every intention of sitting at the computer to up date you all on my dandy wee life

the reality is I've been finding it time consuming

and it cuts in to my productive hours!

 

(please forgive)

 

I just don't have enough hours in my day to achieve all that I want!

(me thinks I should lower my expectations somewhat!)

 

Anyway, I have been sewing madly the last few weeks to replenish stock for the market season

and I have been showcasing some of my dresses in a local shop during the

Melbourne Cup weekend and our local Hot Rod weekend.

 

(it's all rather exciting)

 

I have many projects on the go at present and I'm feeling a bit scattered!!

But my motivation has been high and I have spent many hours whirring away happily

and these are the results ...

 



Love this girly dress

 



 

this has pockets and groovey print

mustard florals with pockets

 





thats right - they are all handmade!

 



 

Selina Lakes book "Homespun Style"

Have you seen it?  The colours are amazing!

 

 



Her first big performance!

 

 



a few market treasures

 



 

my latest score!

($10 thank you very much)

 

These next ones are a tad blurry!  (Damn those settings on the camera!)

 

 

Just enough fabric for another Smurf dress

 

 

sunny yellow

 



 

pocket details (well blurry details)

 

Yikes!  Gotta go  and rescue the washing!  The rains are coming!

 

mwah x



A month in the life of "One Denim Bird" ....

 

It's been a month since my last post and I really don't know where the time has gone!

I have made a commitment to do several local markets over the warmer months and I have a lot of stock to replenish.

but firstly
in more exciting news 

we have had a family holiday up the coast

and in all our usual madness
I managed to meet
in person

the fabulously talented

 

Sarah Misfit

of

 

 

and what a HOOT it was.

As you can imagine it was a day filled with fun and frocks,

dress ups and laughter,

posing and dancing,

op shopping and tip scrounging,

dress fittings, giggles and some serious vintage swapping!

 

See more details of our time together

HERE

 

in the meantime here are a couple of fabulous photos our

photographic extraordinaire

took of me and my girl (Grace)

 

 

D & M's at the waters edge

 

 

mother and daughter - seaside beauties

(photos courtesy of Sarah Misfit)

 

After a gorgeous week at the coast I came back to the dishevelled sewing room from HELL

 

see sewing room photos

 

HERE

 

A sewing room clean out was in order!

 

Initially I thought I would drive all the way to Melbourne to do an IKEA run,

purchase one of their you beaut shelving units for my sewing room

and drive all the way home

 

SERIOUSLY STUPENDOUS

 

Instead, I bought cheap and cheerful industrial DIY shelving locally

and the results speak for themselves ...

 

from this crazy cluttered mess

 

 

to this super duper anal organisation

 

 

WHAT THE  ???? 

insane isn't it!!!

 

But gee I am loving it.

 

 

everything has a proper home.

 

Yes loves, PROPER!

 

 

It took me ALL day to fold these babies.

 And how good is the colour co-ordination?

 

 

 

your welcome!

 

 

Now I need to start at the other end *sigh*

 

Anyway I will leave you with a few happy snaps from the past month.

 

Enjoy ...

 

 

Camp central

 

Mr Whippy ice creams

 



 

a gorgeous gift from a

MISFIT

 

checking out the wares at the tip

 

glamour on the beach

 

Little Miss Nikita

another frock almost ready for market



my latest indulgence

(isn't the cover of frankie magazine adorable)

 



 

 market day wares

 

 

Caio Bellas!